Was The U.S. Defeated In Iraq?

On December 14th, 2011 President Obama proclaimed the Iraq War over. Speaking from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he told people all over the world "everything that American troops have done in Iraq - all the fighting and all the dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering - all of it had led us to this moment of success." While in downtown Baghdad on Sunday, January 1st, 2012 a Shiite group held a victory parade celebrating its role in "defeating the U.S." Who is right? How successful was the U.S.'s nearly nine year Iraq War?

Are U.S. Soldiers Responsible For Their Actions If they Are Just Following Orders?

No political leader, in the name of God or country, and however charismatic can rightfully order the killing of men, women and children. Some leaders claim their intent is as President Obama says, to cause "to leave the field," men they deem as evil. All the other deaths are attributed to "colateral damage." But as we learned from the Nuremberg Trials, to carry out those orders makes the perpetrator a murderer and puts a horrific burden on one’s soul. If you doubt that, notice from the current wars the high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, the many divorces and all those ex-soldiers charged with violent crimes.

You Must Be Sold To Support War

This salesmanship is fear based and requires a massive media push. The other guy intends to destroy you and your family if he is not stopped by force. And make no mistake, he is nothing like you and hates you for everything you have. If you are American, the Twin Tower films and its related horrors will do the job.

For Job Security: Should You Start Your Own Business? (3 Final Tips)

The job market is a disaster. If you are unemployed, underemployed or fearful you may get fired, you would be wise to consider starting or buying your own business. But if traditional business is not right for you, pursue some other avenue that might allow you to become highly successful. For example in 1925, a 23 year-old African-American poet had huge dreams but faced a highly segregated system that made it almost impossible for him to succeed. But one day while working as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC, he saw one of America's most famous poets, Vachel Lindsay having breakfast there.

For Job Security: Should You Start Your Own Business? (3 More Tips)

"I've been out of work for a year, who is going to hire me?" "I'm over 50, are there any jobs for me?" "Will I still have a job in 3 months?" If you've been asking yourself questions like these, you may want to seriously consider starting or buying your own business. Speaking to you as a former founder and CEO of a major company, I would encourage you to become your own boss but taking business risk is not right for everybody. Here are some crucial points to consider:

For Job Security: Should You Start Your Own Business? (4 Tips)

With so many people unemployed, underemployed or who may be fired and good jobs so scarce, it makes sense to consider starting or buying your own business. But because of the bad times, you may be scared. The following story about a couple that bought a business during the the Great Depression may be helpful to you. In 1930, Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband risked their savings to buy the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass.

Will The U.S. Military Leave Iraq?

President Obama said the U.S. military will leave Iraq by 12/31/11 less than 2 months from now. But except for Vietnam where the U.S. was driven out, it doesn't leave as thousands of U.S. soldiers remain in Germany and Japan 66 years after World War 2 and thousands more U.S. troops remain in Korea 58 years after the Korean War. Now leading Iraq Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is warning the U.S. it better leave Iraq. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-iraq-politics-sadr-idUSTRE7A27ZE20111103

We Must Learn To Nurture Instead Of Declaring War

Dear Reader, This insightful piece was written by my friend Kathleen Jacoby under the title, "Nurturing Nature." She speaks of mankind seemingly always "fighting," whether among itself or with nature with frequently disastrous results.

U.S. Plans To Add Thousands Of Middle East Troops

After nearly 9 years of U.S. war and occupation of Iraq, a war supposedly winding down, the U.S. military is planning to place thousands of troops just south of Iraq, in Kuwait. There is no word on how many U.S. soldiers would be located in Kuwait nor how many U.S. "contractors" will remain in Iraq, nor how many "contractors" will be deployed to Kuwait, nor is there word about how the U.S. will pay these massive expenses..

"Replacing the God of War with the God of Peace"

Dear Reader, What follows is a deeply insightful piece published by my friend Kathleen Jacoby that I think will move you as it did me:

Replacing the God of War with the God of Peace by Kathleen Jacoby

Crime and Punishment in America is based on the God of War concept – and it leads to the same recidivism over and over again, just as the middle east is engaged in the same eye for the eye engagement because they are wedded to the God of War. What does this mean, the God of War? It is the old testament judgmental deity who elevates one group over another and inflames them to war against all that defile its identity or grip of power. This is a relentless “god” who never rests until vengeance is extracted.

How to protect your job and get ahead in a bad economy

Having been a CEO for many years, here are three suggestions to help you protect your job and to thrive in a bad economy:

1) Become a jack of all trades. Baseball player Jim Gilliam played 14 years for the Dodgers which is remarkable because most major leaguers play just a few years at that level. And “Junior” as he was called was no superstar. He was what baseball terms a “utility man.”


His stats were mediocre (.265 lifetime batting average and only 65 homeruns) but what he could do is play nearly every position. In the corporate world, it’s called cross-training.

At the start of each season when it was time for the Dodgers to keep just 25 players, they always kept Junior because he could fill in anywhere and do it well.

In 1964, near the end of his playing career, he became one of the first black coaches in the major leagues and coached for the rest of his life because he willingly taught his skills to other players. In good times and bad, Junior always had a job.

If you become a utility man or woman, this approach could do wonders for you. Years ago as CEO, I regretfully had to conduct a layoff. Among those who kept their jobs were utility players. And having found the spotlight, some of them later rose to become stars.

2) Or become a top specialist. Andrew Healy is an outstanding diesel mechanic in a firm that had to lay off many of its other employees. But he is so good at what he does, that the firm depends on his work of which he has plenty. And he loves what he does.

3) Get into sales. Whether you sell directly or support the sales team, sales are vital to every firm. If you can help generate profits, especially in bad times, you become invaluable. Or if you work in the government and you can help land funding, once again your role is crucial.

In summary, during these difficult times, if you act on this advice you could become vital to your employer as Junior did the Dodgers and Andrew has in his firm. And if you change jobs you will have the stature in resume and references to land another good job.